Page 118 of The Mistress of All & Torn

“Yes, very well. When will you come and visit us? You have been dearly missed. Look, Jane is talking to Miss Darcy and Miss de Bourgh right now.”

“Yes, I see.” Darcy smiled bitterly. “I am afraid we do not have time for visits now, but I am sure other opportunities will arise soon.”

Bingley’s disappointment was apparent. “Darcy, I must ask, are you upset with any of us? Did one of the Bennets offend you? Or me? My sisters? You cannot deny that you have been avoiding us for more than a year now. Please let us know what the reason is so we may make amends.”

“Nonsense, Bingley, nobody has offended me. I am glad to see you all happy, that is all that matters.”

“But Darcy, what about you?” Bingley insisted.

“What about me, Bingley?”

“I have not seen you since we were at Pemberley. And the news about your engagement was a real shock to all of us. I heard you so many times declaring you would not marry Miss de Bourgh, then suddenly… And you left us so abruptly at Pemberley that I barely had time for a farewell.”

“Darcy’s engagement was a shock to us all,” Colonel Fitzwilliam interjected over Bingley’s shoulder. “But not as much as Miss Bennet’s engagement to Lord Alveston! Who in the world ever expected that? To be honest, I have not seen the earl in years. I thought he was already… Well…he is a lucky man. Although I fear he is not an ideal choice of husband for Miss Bennet.”

“Richard, we have no right to speculate about this subject. It is not for us to judge who is an ideal choice for anybody,” Darcy interrupted him severely.

Bingley seemed uneasy, and the colonel reconsidered his words.

“You are right, indeed, Darcy. I am only saying that because I have always admired Miss Bennet.”

“Elizabeth’s engagement surprised all of us too,” Bingley admitted. “And being among friends, we cannot deny it is a peculiar situation. But Lord Alveston and Lady Kendal are excellent people. We are so impressed by them! Elizabeth is very fond of them and they of her. It seems a good match from many points of view. As for her reasons—Elizabeth alone has made this decision. She is so bright that I do not doubt her choice.”

“Yes, it seems a good match. Miss Bennet is surely capable of making her own decisions.” Darcy said firmly, gazing at her. Bingley and the colonel stared at him confounded.

“Darcy?” the colonel called to him.

“Yes?”

“Are you well?”

“Very well, thank you. I could use a drink.”

“Excuse me,” Bingley said, “I promised I would open the ball with Elizabeth. Since her betrothed cannot dance, as her brother I am the best choice, it seems.”

“I would be happy to stand with Miss Bennet for the first set and for any other,” the colonel declared. “I intended to ask her, but I did not dare, considering the circumstances. I hope I will have a chance, though. Would you ask her for me?”

“Yes, I shall ask her,” Bingley said.

Darcy threw his cousin a reproachful glance. “Richard, some things are not to be trifled with.”

“Trifle? I am truly willing to dance with Miss Bennet,” the colonel admitted. “And just between ourselves, I confess this marriage arrangement intrigues me. I am not sure what is happening, but it does sound strange.”

“It is not our concern.”

“But we can be curious, can we not? Could Miss Bennet be a gold digger?”

Darcy resisted replying.

“Could she?” the colonel repeated.

“I cannot claim I know Miss Bennet well enough to judge her accurately. I attempted several times, and I failed lamentably. But even if she were, I doubt Lady Kendal and Lord Alveston would let themselves be so easily deceived.”

He looked at Elizabeth again, and the colonel followed his gaze.

“True… Well, this is a mystery we shall maybe solve one day. For now, I shall go and dance.”

“Very well, Richard. Do not let me delay you.”